Leonardo da Vinci called his rotating air-lift concept an aerial screw.
Drawn around 1489, Leonardo’s aerial screw consisted of a large helical structure mounted on a platform. His notes suggested that, if the screw rotated quickly enough, its surface might press against the air and lift the machine. The idea resembles the basic principle behind a helicopter rotor, although the proposed mechanism was not a practical aircraft.
The aerial screw was probably inspired partly by the Chinese flying top, a toy known in Europe through descriptions and illustrations. Leonardo transformed the idea into a much larger engineering design using a linen-covered frame and reed supports.
It is often called a “helicopter” in popular accounts, but that modern label is a comparison rather than Leonardo’s original name. The design lacked a workable power source and suitable lightweight materials. Its historical importance lies in recognizing vertical lift as a distinct aviation problem.